CHIPPY SHOT: Former Men's Fitness editor Neal Boulton says this Tiger Woods cover story was in return for not revealing an affair. Photo: Patrick McMullan

CHIPPY SHOT: Former Men’s Fitness editor Neal Boulton says this Tiger Woods cover story was in return for not revealing an affair.

The National Enquirer caught Tiger Woods in a steamy extramarital affair two years ago, but killed the story in exchange for the golfer doing a rare cover-shoot for its sister mag — despite Tiger’s exclusive deal with a rival publication, a former editor told The Post.

Woods’ camp, fearful of a potential public-relations nightmare in spring 2007, allegedly agreed to do a cover for Men’s Fitness — a magazine owned by the Enquirer’s parent company, American Media, former Men’s Fitness editor-in-chief Neal Boulton said yesterday.

“[American Media CEO] David Pecker knew about Tiger Woods’ infidelity a long time ago,” Boulton told The Post. “[Pecker] traded silence for a Men’s Fitness cover.”

Boulton said he left his post in April 2007, as the seedy Woods-Men’s Fitness deal was completed.

“We were going to [do a quid pro quo with] America’s favorite sports star, just to get his name on the cover of a magazine,” said Boulton. “That was too much for me. That’s when I high-tailed it out of there.”

Pecker dismissed all the quid-pro-quo allegations.

“It is absolutely not true,” said Pecker. “[Boulton] is a disgruntled former employee.”

American Media and The Enquirer first learned of Woods’ alleged off-the-course action, after receiving a tip from the mother of Woods’ alleged paramour, according to Boulton.